THE Mount Isa Mines Rotary Rodeo won silver in the festivals and events category at the prestigious Queensland Tourism Awards.
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The silver award was accepted by rodeo manager Natalie Flecker and board representative Tracy Pertovt at a black-tie ceremony held at Brisbane’s Royal International Convention Centre on Friday night.
The gold award was won by the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers and the bronze by Cairns Amateurs.
The rodeo, which is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, had won the same category for the past two consecutive years and was a finalist in the festival and events category of the 2013 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards.
Ms Flecker paid tribute to the event’s naming sponsor, Mount Isa Mines, other sponsors, the board, Rotary clubs, the community and more than 700 volunteers for their valued contribution to the rodeo’s ongoing success.
She also congratulated all winners and finalists, particularly Adels Grove Camping Park, which won two silver awards in the unique accommodation and tour and/or transport operators categories and the Qantas Founders Museum, also double silver winners of major tourist attraction and tourism restaurant and catering services categories.
‘‘It’s very exciting for the rodeo to have success in this prestigious award for three consecutive years and this category, like all Queensland Tourism Awards, represents some amazing events and festivals throughout the state,’’ Ms Flecker said. ‘‘The Mount Isa Rodeo is unique as a not-for-profit event run by the city’s two Rotary clubs, which manage the massive team of volunteers needed to help run it. ‘‘An incredible amount of work is put in by hundreds of people behind the scenes to stage an event this size and stature in a remote location. We are incredibly grateful for the loyalty and support that our sponsors, the board, Rotary and our wonderful volunteers have shown, in most cases over many years.
‘‘This award is shared by everyone who contributes to our wonderful event.’’
The rodeo is no stranger to awards, having won more than a dozen in recent years.
The 2009 event was voted 13th in the events and festivals category of Queensland’s favourite Q150 awards, as well as scooping three tourism awards to become a finalist in the festivals and events category at the 2007 Australian Tourism Awards.
The 2015 rodeo will be held from August 7 to 9, with preparations already under way, including the Rodeo Queen Quest, whose entrants have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars over its 56-year history for local charities as diverse as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Police Citizens Youth Club, North Queensland Rescue Helicopter Service, Laura Johnson Home and BUSHkids community health organisation.
Visit www.isarodeo.com.au or call 4743 2706. Follow on www. facebook.com/isarodeo; www.twitter.com/isarodeo and www.youtube.com/mountisarotaryrodeo.